Robert Mason's Vision of the Future Church

In 1830, the year the Church was organized, Robert Mason—a resident of Connecticut often called the 'old prophet'—related a vision to a young Wilford Woodruff, who had known Mason and his teachings since childhood. Mason described laboring in his field at midday when he was enwrapped in a vision of a vast forest of fruit trees. He found himself very hungry, searching the orchard for fruit, but discovering none. As he marveled at this, every tree in the orchard fell to the ground. Subsequently, young sprouts emerged from the fallen roots, opening into thrifty trees that blossomed and bore the finest fruit he had ever beheld. Before he could taste the fruit, the vision closed, and he found himself back in the field. Seeking the meaning, Mason prayed and felt the Lord reveal that the falling trees represented his own generation, in which no Church of Christ or kingdom of God existed. However, the sprouts and their abundant fruit symbolized the next generation, in which the Lord would restore His Church and kingdom in their fullness. Mason told Woodruff that he would never partake of the fruit in the flesh, but that Woodruff would live to see the day, handle the fruit, and become a 'conspicuous actor' in that kingdom. Years later, after joining the Church and participating in Zion's Camp, Woodruff wrote to Mason to confirm the gospel's restoration, but Mason died before he could be baptized. After the ordinance of baptism for the dead was revealed, Woodruff was baptized on his behalf.